Ruth 3 - Proactive Righteousness
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Proactive Righteousness Ruth 3:1-18
“Christianity is a religion for losers”. These are the words of Ted Turner, American billionaire and founder of CNN. Ted is known for his open hostility towards Christians. Once he suggested that the Ten Commandments should be rewritten to eliminate the prohibition against adultery. He characterized Christians who oppose abortion as "bozos." For Ted Turner – poverty is a greater tragedy than adultery. The threat of nuclear disaster is what we should see as “evil” - not abortion. For him fighting these things is righteous. Critics of Christianity such as Ted Turner think that Christianity is just about following a bunch of rules – about NOT doing things that the Bible says are “wrong”. Why is this? They have misunderstood true biblical righteousness. Where did he get his wrong ideas? The liberal media? Secular humanism? No, the church itself!
When we think about what it means to be righteous – we tend to think it means we don’t do bad things. We don’t cuss, don’t chew, don’t go with girls that do – righteousness = good behavior. Now the problem with this is that we only have half of the equation when it comes to “behavior”. Righteous behavior involves more than not doing the wrong thing, it also involves doing the right thing. As we will see in Ruth 3 Naomi, Ruth and Boaz DO things and DO NOT do things for righteousness’ sake. And we are going to be challenged to look at righteousness a bit differently.
I. Naomi's Righteous Wisdom (1-5)
A. THE SETTING OF
o We are told at the end of 2 that Ruth gleaned in Boaz' field until the end of the barley harvest (mid March-Mid April) and the wheat harvest (Mid April-Mid May)
o So the time from their arrival to the beginning of ch 3 was about 2 months.
o Last week – with the end of the harvest came an end to gleaning and regular contact between Ruth and Boaz has practically come to an end as well.
o Naomi realizes the current arrangement cannot go on indefinitely so she being a righteous woman as her wisdom will show sees an opportunity for Ruth’s future.
o Chapter 3 begins with Naomi’s disclosing her plan to seize this opportunity.
B. THE PROPOSAL: She comes to Ruth and says - "should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for?"
o Literally: " shall I not seek, a place of rest for you, that it may be well with you?
o Naomi being a righteous woman cannot let Ruth stay on a dead-end road.
o (2a) "Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours?
ILLUSTRATION: Nobody likes being "matched up". It doesn’t usually go well! In the movie MY Big Fat Greek Wedding - Toula is in love with Ian Miller. Her father is heartbroken over this because...he's not Greek! So Toula's father plays matchmaker by having all of these men who ARE Greek over for dinner in hopes that she will develop an interest in one of them which of course doesn't work. Now this is NOT what's happening here!
o She is not suggesting Boaz because they would make a cute couple.
o Why Boaz? Some have suggested her choice of Boaz was for her own personal benefit.
o But those who see it this way mistake Naomi's wisdom for selfishness.
o The narrator wants us to see that Ruth’s well-being is at the core of her suggestion.
o Ruth will continue working as the breadwinner until Naomi dies – and Naomi knows this.
o Why not a young man from
o She came to
o And Naomi knows Ruth would only marry again if Naomi’s needs were met.
o Boaz is the clear choice for several reasons:
1. He is part of the family - which increases the likelihood he will agree to the proposal.
2. it was Boaz's field that Ruth "just happened" to find herself - clearly the Lord had brought this to pass and is pointing them in Boaz’ direction.
3. Boaz has already proven himself to be a righteous, God-fearing man. He is a man of standing. Well-respected, full of compassion, kindness and grace - he will undoubtedly be good to Ruth and take care of her. Its a no-brainer! Its practical - and most importantly it is redemptive for both women. And here’s how its all going to go down.
C. THE PREPARATIONS: (2b-3a) Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes.
o We might be led to believe Naomi is telling Ruth to "deck herself out". The word "best" is being supplied by the English translators.
o Certainly she was making herself more presentable, she tells her to bathe and to anoint herself - presumably with perfume
o But likely Ruth has been wearing widow's garments so Naomi's instructions meant Ruth should put the widow's uniform aside and put on her regular clothes.
o By doing this she is signaling she is ready to be married again.
o Now Naomi’s plan might raise eyebrows and with good reason!
D. THE PLAN: (3b-4) Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”
o Excuse me? This sounds inappropriate – like she’s telling her to do something that could severely backfire and drag Ruth's reputation in the mud!
o It all sounds so foolish but in reality it was incredibly sagacious- Naomi demonstrates incredible wisdom and foresight in this plan.
o See- Boaz is going to be in a good mood – meaning more favorable to Ruth.
o I wonder how we would have responded? To our amazement – Ruth is willing to go along with the plan: I will do whatever you say.
II. Ruth's Righteous Submission (6-9)
A. THE PLAN EXECUTED: She does everything Naomi tells her to do.
o When we’re told she uncovered his feet it sounds like she does this just up to his ankles.
o The word in the Hebrew means "feet" most of the time but can also refer to the legs and in some rare cases the genitals.
o I think she uncovered his legs – it makes no sense for her to uncover just his feet – the point is to have the cover spread over her – she’s not going to get much coverage by his feet.
o At some point Boaz wakes up - startled by a dream or something and discovers someone lying beside his legs. Who are you? he asks.
o The moment has arrived - this is the climax of the story! What will he say? Do?
o Now pay attention - the narrator wants us to get a glimpse of two people of high integrity in a situation where the potential for abuse and sin is high.
Illustration: In a world where personal gain and self-gratification is the name of the game this is an important scene to consider. For so many in the world its all about me, myself and I, or as the Beatles put it: All thru' the day I me mine, I me mine, I me mine. All thru' the night I me mine, I me mine, I me mine. All I can hear I me mine, I me mine, I me mine. I-I-me-me mine, I-I-me-me mine. This is not an I-Me Mine, situation: Ruth's motives are righteous and selfless. And she shows this in how she identifies herself. I am your servant, Ruth. This is followed by a request that explains her actions.
B. THE REQUEST: Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer. This was a request for protection – for marriage.
o The word “garment” kanap was used by Boaz back in Chapter 2 where Boaz, reflecting upon Ruth's selfless acts says to Ruth said: May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
o Ruth uses the same word – she is asking him to fulfill his own prayer.
o Boaz, remember when you pronounced this blessing on me? The Lord has put you in a special position to bring it to pass. Cover me. Marry me. Redeem me.
o It was unlikely, but still in the realm of possibility that Boaz could reject her and humiliate her; or perhaps take advantage of her then charger her with entrapment
o A weaker man might have given into temptation and but Boaz is not that type of man.
o Both of them act with integrity and mutual respect for one another and for God.
o One commentator rightly points out: "Rare indeed is the movie that shows characters in sexually charged circumstances not fulfilling their self-interest."
ILLUSTRATION: The movie Castaway has a scene that contains this type of circumstance. Chuck Nolan, (Tom Hanks) and Kelly Frears (Helen Hunt) are engaged. Chuck is high up in management with FedEx and he takes a last minute business trip that ends in tragedy - the plane crashes in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and Chuck is the only survivor. Floating on a life raft, he drifts to a small island where he lives for 5 years. His love for Kelly is what keeps him alive. After a while he becomes determined to get off the island so he builds a raft and risks the open sea. Eventually he is rescued and is brought home to the great dissapointment that the love of his life moved on and got married. And there is a scene where Chuck goes to her house late at night to talk to her while her husband is asleep. The tension in this situation is much like the tension at threshing floor. Both characters in the movie act honorably and do the right thing in the end but there is one instance where they give into the tension and allow self-interest to take charge – in a moment of weakness they embrace and kiss. Then he says to her -you have to go home, meaning - you have a husband and a child – that’s where you belong. We can respect Chuck Nolan for this - in the end he demonstrated a self-control we rarely see in movies - but it would have been better without the kiss. Thankfully there was no kissing at the threshing floor. Ruth's acts of righteousness do not go unnoticed by Boaz who responds favorably with praise.
C. BOAZ’ PRAISE: "The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. "
o This is the first time the word "hesed" (kindness) is used in reference to Ruth.
o Indeed Ruth is the quintessence of hesed, that is the personification, the living example.
o She has "not gone after the young men, whether rich or poor", instead she has volunteered to be a tool of redemption - the family of Elimelech escapes extinction through her.
Transition: She could have chosen another path - possibly an easier path. She could have gone after young men. This reference to young men seems to indicate Boaz was quite a bit older than Ruth therefore her coming to Boaz with this request was nothing less than an act of selflessness. She was doing this out of hesed for Naomi.
III. Boaz' Righteousness And Selflessness (10-18)
A. THE PROMISE: For Boaz to step into the role as the kinsman-redeemer was not some small matter either - it was a sacrifice made on behalf of the living and the dead.
o "Now my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask. What is she really asking him to do? What's all this talk about land, widows and redeemers?
o Deuteronomy 25:5ff says if a man died and left no heir, the brother of the dead man was to take the dead man's wife as his own in order to raise up an heir for his brother.
o The first son born between them would become the son of the dead man and the heir of the dead man's property. This is why it’s a sacrifice – it involved purchasing the land only to give it away to your son who isn’t really your son. This custom became known as Levirate Law.
o Under this law, brothers who did not wish to follow through with their obligations could get out of it but were branded as "uncooperative".
o What if there is no brother? The scriptures are silent.
o So is this a levirate situation? Hard to tell – interpreters are divided – but to me what is happening here looks a lot like a levirate situation since it is fulfilling a similar purpose.
o If it is a levirate marriage it seems that Boaz is volunteering to fulfill the role – another sign of his righteous and upright character.
o Boaz also indicates that there is a relative closer than he. He will redeem only if this "unnamed man" decides not to – again he does this by choice,.
o Bottom line: Boaz swears with an oath it will be done: "if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it."
o And he backs up his promise by sending a load of barley with her saying: "Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed."
o The appearance of the word "empty" is meant to draw our minds back to 1:21 where Naomi said the Lord brought her back from Moab empty.
o This one word is a signal of the reversal of Naomi's emptiness. It also communicated the seriousness of Boaz – its a down payment guaranteeing his future promise.
o Redemption is coming to the house of Elimelech and Naomi sees Boaz means business: "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today." “Everything’s gonna be alright!”
IV. Taking the Message Home
o Now I want to make sure you don’t misunderstand me – the righteousness I have been speaking of is not human in origin. Good behavior does not make someone righteous.
o Boaz was not righteous because he did good things – he did good things because he was righteous – and this was not his doing – it was the work of God in him (Ruth and Naomi too)
o The situations where sin was knocking at the door were rightly avoided:
ü Naomi did not take advantage of Ruth’s love and generosity toward her.
ü Ruth did not give into the impulses of a young widow to find a young hunk.
ü Ruth did not try to manipulate Boaz with sexuality – Boaz did not take advantage of her .
o Yes these are examples of their righteousness, but there is more to consider.
o See we usually think of righteousness strictly in terms of what we are obligated to do in a specific situation. Rarely do we go above and beyond the call of duty or obligation.
o What we have here are people who did what they did because of WHO they were. They were people who belonged to God. Their righteousness was PROACTIVE.
o Each of them acted in the others’ best interest – they were doing what was necessary for the others’ well-being. This is what the Christian community looks like.
o One of the things that has driven Naomi and Ruth to go beyond the call of duty is their hope.
o Certainly Naomi was hopeless at the beginning– but now sees she always had hope.
o Hope came alive in Naomi and with it came a proactive righteousness. Had she remained hopeless it is likely the events of chapter 3 would not have happened.
John Piper: Hope helps us think up ways to do good. Hope helps us pursue our ventures with virtue and integrity. It's hopelessness that makes people think they have to lie and steal and seize illicit pleasures for the moment. But hope, based on the confidence that a sovereign God is for us, gives us a thrilling impulse" which Piper calls "strategic righteousness." And I have been calling proactive righteousness. We see it in Naomi, in Ruth, and in Boaz and we especially see it in Jesus.
No one went so far beyond the call of duty as Jesus. Certainly he fulfilled all righteousness – resisted temptation and lived his life here on earth without giving into sin, not even one kiss! But what he did was beyond obligation – he freely gave up his life unto death – our death. It was proactive righteousness that brought Jesus to us – seeing us in our need God could have decided to do nothing and it would not have been wrong. God was not obligated to us – he owed us nothing – but he obligated himself – a covenant was made in heaven between the Father, the Son and the HS - humanity will be redeemed by the work of God the Son. And the HOPE that we have in Jesus today that he is coming again – this is all the fodder we need to be proactive in our righteousness towards one another and towards all those God puts in our way. Go spread your righteousness around!
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